Retainer for sheet transfer in sorting machine

ABSTRACT

A sorting device which receives and path and in-face-to-face proximity sheets at preselected positions includes a distributor for receiving and distributing the sheets for reception by a receiver and sheet retaining means cooperating with the conveyor means of the distributor for holding the moving sheets against the conveyor while being conveyed to the position where the sheets are deflected into the receiver. The sheet retaining means includes flexible strands connected between the upper and lower ends of the conveyor path and in-face1to-face proximity with the conveyor means to hold sheets against the conveyor means while being moved to the position from which the sheets are deflected, and guide means for each of the flexible strands secured to a deflector assembly to divert the strands laterally outwardly from a point before deflection of the moving sheets to avoid interference of the strands with the moving sheets being deflected into the receiver.

United States tent [191 Johnson RETAINER FOR SHEET TRANSFER IN SORTINGMACHINE [75] inventor: fialefichardjdhnson,Seatfle, 7

Wash.

#[73] AssigneefNBfinflbd, Seattle, Wash. 7 V

' 22 Filed: Sept. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 288,531

Primary Examiner-Robert W, Michell Assistant Examiner-L. R. OremlandAttorney-Richard W. Seed et al.

[ Oct. 16, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT A sorting device which receives and pathand in-faceto-face proximity sheets at preselected positions includes adistributor for receiving and distributing the sheets for reception by areceiver and sheet retaining means cooperating with the conveyor meansof the distributor for holding the moving sheets against the conveyorwhile being conveyed to the position where the sheets are deflected intothe receiver. The sheet retaining means includes flexible strandsconnected between the upper and lower ends of the conveyor path andin-facelto-face proximity with the conveyor means to hold sheets againstthe conveyor means while being moved to the position from which thesheets are deflected, and guide means for each of the flexible strandssecured to a deflector assembly to divert the strands laterallyoutwardly from a point before deflection of the moving sheets to avoidinterference of the strands with the moving sheets being deflected intothe receiver.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Oct. 16, 1973 3,765,670

RETAINER FOR SHEET TRANSFER IN SORTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a sortingdevice of the vertical conveyor, single deflector type, and particularlyto improved sheet retainer means therefor.

2. Prior Art Relating to the Disclosure Sheet sorting devices of thetype described herein are known, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,273,882; 3,414,254; and 3,561,753. In devices of this type, means arerequired for retaining the downwardly moving sheets along the verticalcourse of conveyor travel against the conveyor before deflection into asuitable bin, or shelf, of the receiver. The sheet retaining meansdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,414,254 and 3,561,753 are spring-loadedreel units having tapes connected to the deflector assembly that arepulled downwardly as the deflector assembly moves upwardly. The tapesare vertically aligned with the conveyor tapes and are spaced in closeface-to-face relationship to retain the downwardly moving sheets againstthe tapes. Sheet retaining means of this type presented certainproblems, primarily that of ink transfer from freshly printed documents,smearing and maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to an improved sheetretaining means for the distributor of a sorting device which includes adistributor and receiver. The sheet retaining means includes flexiblestrands connected between the upper and lower ends of the path of travelof a conveyor for the moving sheets to hold the sheets against theconveyor while being moved to a position of deflection, and guide meansfor each strand secured to a movable deflector assembly to divert thestrands laterally outwardly to avoid interference of the strands withthe moving sheets being deflected into a bin of the receiver by thedeflector assembly.

The objects of this invention are (1) to provide a sheet sorting devicewherein the sheet retaining means is greatly simplified and providespositive means of retaining the sheets in position on the verticalcourse of the tape conveyor until it reaches the position at which it ispositively deflected; (2) to provide an improved sheet retaining meansfor the distributor of a sorting device which does not transfer ink fromone moving sheet to another; (3) to provide a sorting device includingsheet retaining means which is essentially maintenance free andeconomical to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thedistributor assembly incorporating the sheet retaining means of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the deflector assemblyof the distributor including guide means secured thereto to laterallydivert the sheet retaining means; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section along section line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a distributorwhich separates and delivers sheets of paper or other suitable materialto an upright receiver 11 located at the rear of the distributor andhaving one or more vertical columns of shelves or bins 12 for storage ofthe sorted sheets delivered thereto in proper order by the distributor.The exact details of the distributor and receiver form no part of thepresent invention and reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,254 fordetails of same. In general, the shelves of the receiver are arranged tobe fed from the front by the distributor and manually emptied from therear when the sorted material is completed. The various sheets to besorted are fed in reverse order by printer or duplicator (not shown),one sheet at a time, into the conveyor portion of the distributor whichincludes a pair of laterally spaced inlet conveyor tapes 1313. Thesheets are received at the infeed end of the conveyor and are moved inan upwardly inclined course and then downwardly along a vertical portionof the conveyor which faces the vertical column of receiver shelves orbins. During the downward course on the vertical portion of the conveyorthe sheets are deflected by a deflector assembly 14 onto the respectiveshelves of the receiver, the deflector assembly indexing betweenpositions deflecting moving sheets along the conveyor into therespective ones of the shelves. The indexing deflector assembly includesa vertical slide assembly and means to progressively index the slideassembly for deflection of the moving sheets by the plates or fingers 15sequentially to the receiver trays. At the completion of a chosen groupof index positions, the deflector assembly is recycled to again start aninitial indexed position by a control circuit substantially as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,254, which is hereby incorporated by reference.Referring to FIG. 1 the distributor has a base frame 16 which may berectangular or any other shape in plan view. The base frame is supportedby means of conventional support wheels '17, the wheels either mountedto the base frame in a fixed position as illustrated or castered orotherwise pivoted as desired. Vertical supports 18 mounted on the baseframe at the four corners thereof serve primarily to support the feedtable of the inclined feed portion of the conveyor. Sheet metalenclosure members 19 are fixed to extend upwardly of the base frame andconnected across the top by a transverse housing structure 19a about thedistributor portion of the distributor. Additional supports 20 locatedinboard of the supports 18 and secured to the base frame 16 by weldingor other suitable means serve to mount certain of the support membersand drive shaft as well as to provide guide means for the deflectorassembly.

The inclined feed portion of the distributor includes an inclined feedtable 21 connected at the upper end of the table to vertical supports 20and at the lower end of the table to a suitable support 22. Details ofthe infeed table form no part of this invention and are disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,414,254. The supports for the conveyor tape 13-13 aswell as the indexing deflector assembly 14 include two rear verticalrails (not shown) and vertical posts 20 spaced forwardly thereof. Theconveyor tapes 13 are driven by means of a drive motor (not shown)mounted on the base frame. The tapes pass about idler rolls 23 upwardlyalong the inclined feed table and at the top of the inclined infeedtable pass over a relatively large diameter guide roller 24 having itsshaft journaled for free rotation in posts 20 and thence downwardly andrearwardly about idler rolls 25 carried on stub axles fixed to the baseframe 16.

The tapes 13-13 may be run parallel to each other along their uppertravel along the infeed table or may be guided to diverge slightly inthe upper direction to laterally tension the moving sheets.

Deflecting fingers 22, mounted for rotation between the positionillustrated and that in the path of the oncoming sheets, divert thesheets for proofing until ready for sorting.

A central conveying belt 26 is trained about a lower roller (not shown)journaled for rotation in suitable bearings between upright posts 26aand trained around another such drum or roller at the upper end of thevertical run (not shown). Reference may be had to US. Pat. No. 3,56! ,753 for details of the central belt configuration and utilization as such.The belt 26 is provided with perforations 27 as indicated in FIG. 1. Thebelt, on its vertical course, passes over a vacuum plenum (not shown) inthe form of a rectangular chamber closed at its top and back side buteither entirely open or partially open at its front to the back side ofthe belt 26. The lower end of the chamber is connected to a vacuumconduit.

The indexing deflector assembly 14 is mounted for vertical movementalong the vertical guide posts 20. Reference to US. Pat. Nos. 3,561,753and 3 ,414,254 may be had for details of the indexing assembly, itsstructure and utilization. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the deflectorassembly includes a series of deflecting fingers 15 mounted at spacedintervals on shafts 28 and 29 extending between the end deflectingfingers 15a on each side. Coil springs (not shown) extend between eachof the deflecting fingers. The end deflecting fingers 15a, in turn, aresecured by rods 30 and 31 to vertical end plates 32 on each side of thedeflecting fingers. Only one of the end plate structures will bedescribed in detail. The-end plate structures 32 are provided with threerollers 33 and 34 which engage grooves in the vertical posts 20 on eachside thereof. The posts 20 act as guide rails for the vertical movementof the indexing deflector assembly and the deflecting fingers 15 carriedthereby. The deflecting fingers l serve to deflect sheets moving alongthe conveyor tapes l3 and 26 into one of the bins 12 as the sheetcontacts the deflecting fingers surface in its downward course. Themechanism for vertical movement of the deflector assembly is describedin US. Pat. Nos. 3,561,753 and 3,414,254 and forms no part of thisinvention. A roller 35 journaled for free rotation to shaft 350 issecured to end plate 32 forward of the respective end deflecting fingersand directs the edges of the moving sheets over the deflecting fingers.

The distributor illustrated incorporates a simplified and improved sheetretaining means for retaining the moving sheets directed downwardlyalong the vertical course of the distributor against the conveyor belts13 and 26 to retain the downwardly moving sheets against the conveyortape. As the downwardly moving sheet encounters the deflector fingers 15it moves from beneath the sheet retaining means under the roller 35 andis deflected by the lip of the deflector fingers 15 toward the receiverbin 12 aligned with the deflector fingers. The sheet retaining meansdescribed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,561,753 and 3,414,254 are spring loadedtape winding means connected at the upper end to the frame of thedistributor and at the lower end to the indexing assembly so that as thedeflector indexing assembly is moved downwardly the sheet retainingtapes are unreeled against the tension of the spring. Contrary to thisthe sheet retaining means of this invention is much simplified, lessexpensive to manufacture, and does not transfer ink from sheet to sheet.The sheet retaining means includes flexible strands 40 aligned in closefaceto-face relationship with the conveyor tapes 13 to retain thedownwardly moving sheets against the conveyor tape. The flexible strandsof nylon, polyester or cotton or other suitable material, are secured attheir upper ends to an elongated bracket 41 having a semicircular upperend secured around shaft 36. The lower ends of the flexible strands aresecured to springs 42 which, in turn, are secured at their lower ends toforwardly extending brackets 43 attached to the base frame 16 of thedistributor. Secured to the forward edges of plates 32 on each side ofthe distributor are guide means 44, such as the guide tube shown, whichdivert the strands 40 laterally outwardly a sufficient distance suchthat they do not interfere with the downwardly moving sheets deflectedby the deflecting fingers 15 of the deflector assembly 14 as they arebeing deflected into the respective receiver bins of the re ceiver. Ifnecessary, downwardly extending flexible or semiflexible strands 45 aresuspended from the upper ends of the guide tubes 44 above the rollers35.

Indexing of the deflector assembly from one receiver bin to the next isdone in response to passage of a sheet from the deflector assemblythrough a suitable control means which are described in theaforementioned patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,56l,753 and 3,414,254.

The embodiments of the invention in which a particular property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a distributor for receiving and distributing sheets at preselectedpositions for reception by a receiver having (1 sheet conveyor means formoving the received sheets past the shelves of a receiver, (2) a movablesheet deflector assembly operatively associated with the conveyor means,(3) means mounting the deflector assembly for movement along a course oftravel of the conveying means past the shelves of the receiver fordeflecting moving sheets therefrom into selected shelves of thereceiver, and (4) sheet retaining means cooperating with the conveyormeans for holding the moving sheets thereto while being conveyed to theposition where they are deflected, the extremities of the conveyorincluding at least the extent of the shelves of the receiver, theimprovement comprising sheet retaining means including (1) flexiblestrands connected with stationary points adjacent the extremities of theconveyor and extending along the course of travel of the conveyor meansand in faceto-face proximity with the conveyor means for holding sheetsagainst the conveyor means while being moved to the position of thedeflector assembly, and (2) guide means for each strand secured to thedeflector assembly for diverting the strands laterally outwardly from apoint before deflection of the moving sheets to avoid interference ofthe strands with the moving sheets being deflected into the receiver.

2. In a distributor for receiving and distributing moving sheets into areceiver having an upright column of spaced shelves, the distributorincluding (1) vertically moving sheet conveyor means opposite thereceiver for conveying sheets in a substantially vertical course withthe sheets being disposed in a substantially vertical plane, (2) amovable sheet deflector assembly operatively associated with theconveyor means, (3) means mounting the deflector assembly for movementalong the conveyor, and (4) sheet retaining means in face-tofaceproximity with the moving sheets to hold the same in contact with theconveyor means during conveyance and during the positioning of adeflector assembly, the improvement comprising providing sheet retainingmeans including flexible strands connected with stationary pointsadjacent the upper and lower ends of the conveyor means in face-to-faceproximity with the moving sheets for holding the sheets against theconveyor means while being moved to the position of the deflectorassembly, guide means for each strand secured to the deflector assemblyfor diverting the strands laterally outwardly from a point beforedeflection of the moving sheets into the receiver to avoid interferenceof the strands with the moving sheets being deflected into shelves ofthe receiver.

3. The distributor of claim 2 wherein the guide means includes guidetubes through which the strands are directed secured to each side of thedeflector assembly guiding each strand laterally outwardly of thedeflector fingers of the deflector assembly.

4. The distributor of claim 2 wherein spring means are connected betweenone of the ends of the strands and the frame of the distributor.

1. In a distributor for receiving and distributing sheets at preselectedpositions for reception by a receiver having (1) sheet conveyor meansfor moving the received sheets past the shelves of a receiver, (2) amovable sheet deflector assembly operatively associated with theconveyor means, (3) means mounting the deflector assembly for movementalong a course of travel of the conveying means past the shelves of thereceiver for deflecting moving sheets therefrom into selected shelves ofthe receiver, and (4) sheet retaining means cooperating with theconveyor means for holding the moving sheets thereto while beingconveyed to the position where they are deflected, the extremities ofthe conveyor including at least the extent of the shelves of thereceiver, the improvement comprising sheet retaining means including (1)flexible strands connected with stationary points adjacent theextremities of the conveyor and extending along the course of travel ofthe conveyor means and in face-to-face proximity with the conveyor meansfor holding sheets against the conveyor means while being moved to theposition of the deflector assembly, and (2) guide means for each strandsecured to the deflector assembly for diverting the strands laterallyoutwardly from a point before deflection of the moving sheets to avoidinterference of the strands with the moving sheets being deflected intothe receiver.
 2. In a distributor for receiving and distributing movingsheets into a receiver having an upright column of spaced shelves, thedistributor including (1) vertically moving sheet conveyor meansopposite the receiver for conveying sheets in a substantially verticalcourse with the sheets being disposed in a substantially vertical plane,(2) a movable sheet deflector assembly operatively associated with theconveyor means, (3) means mounting the deflector assembly for movementalong the conveyor, and (4) sheet retaining means in face-to-faceproximity with the moving sheets to hold the same in contact with theconveyor means during conveyance and during the positioning of adeflector assembly, the improvement comprising providing sheet retainingmeans including flexible strands connected with stationary pointsadjacent the upper and lower ends of the conveyor means in face-to-faceproximity with the moving sheets for holding the sheets against theconveyor means while being moved to the poSition of the deflectorassembly, guide means for each strand secured to the deflector assemblyfor diverting the strands laterally outwardly from a point beforedeflection of the moving sheets into the receiver to avoid interferenceof the strands with the moving sheets being deflected into shelves ofthe receiver.
 3. The distributor of claim 2 wherein the guide meansincludes guide tubes through which the strands are directed secured toeach side of the deflector assembly guiding each strand laterallyoutwardly of the deflector fingers of the deflector assembly.
 4. Thedistributor of claim 2 wherein spring means are connected between one ofthe ends of the strands and the frame of the distributor.